The Waitaki District Council signed off on more than $6million in new water infrastructure projects yesterday.
Under its 3 Waters programme, which aims to improve the regulation and supply arrangements of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater, the Government has approved additional funding for local bodies to commission work over and above what had been planned for this financial year.
The council yesterday approved a range of projects including
$1.5million for water mains and $1million for wastewater treatment in Palmerston and
$1.4million for wastewater treatment upgrades in Omarama.
Assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the programme represented a diverse range of work across the regions and would keep contractors busy for a good 12-18 months.
Some of the work was priced according to known costs, while other projects would be a matter of asking contractors how much work on that infrastructure could be done for that price, he said.
Staff also recommended bringing forward plans for adding to the council’s water staff, and providing new office accommodation for those people.
"The plus side is that additional resourcing can be funded out of the grant money provided by government and it does provide good value for money when compared to if we had to use contractors or consultants to deliver that work," Mr Jorgensen said.
Waitaki has been confronted with a range of water management issues in recent years, including almost draining the Oamaru water supply dry during a flood event and having to turn off the town supply to Kurow after a water main broke.
"Those are the kinds of things we are trying to address," Mr Jorgensen said.
Councillor Hana Halalele said the funding boost represented a unique opportunity for Waitaki to take a greater part in the 3 Waters programme and staff should be supported to do that.
Mr Jorgensen said Waitaki expected competition from Otago and Canterbury for qualified staff, and the council agreeing to the funding now should give the region a head start.
It was possible a hub or centre of excellence could be set up and attract well-paying jobs to the region.
Mayor Gary Kircher said the existing water programme was dealing with "low-hanging fruit" and the proposal was confronting larger and much-needed improvements.
Cr Melanie Tavendale said any discussion about staff accommodation was a difficult one but the proposal was the best option available to complete a comprehensive range of much-needed work.
"If we do this well we have more of a chance of keeping positions here, no matter what happens . . . I appreciate how fast your team have moved on this because I think it is going to make a big difference."
Council approved
- $200,000 for more water storage in Duntroon and Otematata.
- $500,000 for council camp ground water supply improvements.
- $500,000 each in Weston and Otematata for water main replacement.
- $500,000 for various electrical system upgrades.
- $300,000 replacement water mains Robbs Crossing.
- $100,000 for a new tank lining in Omarama.
- $100,000 wastewater planning Duntroon and Moeraki.
- $100,000 improvements at Ohau.
